Ghent University uses ICP-MS to quantify microplastics and nanoparticles

Researchers at Ghent University are employing Agilent Technologies' ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) technology to address complex analytical challenges. Specifically, the Atomic and Mass Spectrometry (A&MS) research team, led by Professor Luc Vanhaecke, has successfully utilized Agilent's triple quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ) instruments.

The research group specializes in measuring both engineered nanoparticles and microplastics. The analysis of nanoparticles, such as gold or silver nanoparticles, as well as silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide particles, is technically demanding but holds significance in the food, consumer product, and biomedical industries. Thanks to the rapid detection capabilities of Agilent's ICP-MS instruments, the team has developed methods capable of detecting microplastics as small as one micrometer in diameter.

The technique also allows for the measurement of elemental content within single biological cells. The instrument's ability to detect very short, millisecond-duration signals is crucial for these applications. Researchers can also leverage the IntelliQuant function for a comprehensive elemental screen before proceeding with more detailed measurements.

Agilent's 8900 ICP-MS instrument offers a combination of high sensitivity, precision, and fast detection, which is vital for the analysis of single cells and nanoparticles. The university has been using this technology since 2012, with applications now extending to medical research, including the measurement of drug efficacy.